Names In The News

NBCSPORTS.com's Ryan Ballengee reported agent MARK STEINBERG, who reps TIGER WOODS, has signed golfer MATT KUCHAR to Excel Sports Management. Kuchar becomes ESM's third golf client since Steinberg joined the firm in July. Kuchar previously was with Peter Jacobsen Sports. Kuchar was the '10 PGA Tour money list winner and Ballengee noted he is "the biggest get for Steinberg in his four months with ESM." U.S. Women's Amateur champion DANIELLE KANG joined the agency last month (NBCSPORTS.com, 10/13).

CHARITY STRIPE: Penguins C EVGENI MALKIN and Capitals LW ALEX OVECHKIN organized a charity theme for Thursday's Capitals-Penguins game at Consol Energy Center "to benefit the families left behind when all members" of the KHL Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team died in a plane crash in Russia last month. The Penguins players' "wives and girlfriends sold silicone bracelets at the game," as part of an NHL-wide fundraising drive. Players wore "special patches on their jerseys and stickers on their helmets." NHL.com will auction off the game-worn jerseys (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/14)....MLB donated $1M to support the MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. National Memorial Project Foundation in DC. The memorial, located on the National Mall, will be dedicated Sunday (THE DAILY)....Nonprofit group Solutions for Change announced this week that it raised $1.3M at a black tie fundraiser last Saturday featuring former Secretary of State CONDOLEEZZA RICE as the keynote speaker. TaylorMade-adidas Golf President & CEO MARK KING emceed the event, and Padres Vice Chair & CEO JEFF MOORAD was also in attendance (SIGNONSANDIEGO.com, 10/12).
HITTING THE BOOKS: The Univ. of North Carolina announced contract extensions Thursday for men's basketball coach ROY WILLIAMS, women's basketball coach SYLVIA HATCHELL and baseball coach MIKE FOX. Williams will have a base salary of $325,000 and will "receive supplemental income" from the university ranging from $1.35-1.65M per year. He also will receive an expense allowance of $30,000 in '11-12, and $40,000 in each of the following six years. Williams' base salary will be $180,000 in '11-12, $220,000 in '12-13, $240,000 in '13-14, $250,000 in '14-15, and $260,000 in each of the following three seasons. Hatchell will receive a base salary of $360,000 and UNC will pay her supplemental compensation ranging from $70,000-130,000, in addition to an expense allowance of $40,000 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/14).

BACK ON COURSE: DONALD TRUMP reportedly has agreed to purchase the Doral Golf Resort & Spa near Miami for $170M. The agreement, "expected to be filed in a New York bankruptcy court next week, is far from certain." The deal establishes Trump "as the lead, or 'stalking horse,' bidder in a future auction of the property, and Trump's is the bid to beat" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/12).
NAMES: Penguin Books has secured the Chinese language rights to tennis player LI NA’s memoir titled, “How To Go West And Win,” to be co-published with a Chinese partner early next year (IMG)....WNBA President LAUREL RICHIE will receive The Shot Caller Award, which honors those “forward thinking, visionary women who have courageously revolutionized her industry’s territory.” The award will be presented at the second annual “Black Girls Rock! 2011” (NBA)….Celtics co-Owner JIM PALLOTTA is “pouring money into” Florida-based SecurityPoint Media. The company “places ads in the bottom of the bins that carry passengers’ cell phones, watches, shoes and other personal items through airport security checkpoints” (BOSTON HERALD, 10/14)….Liberty Media Chair JOHN MALONE became “the largest private landowner in the U.S., wresting the top spot on The Land Report 100 from his friend and longtime business partner, TED TURNER.” The list also includes Rams and Arsenal Owner STAN KROENKE at No. 10, the Lions Owner the FORD Family at No. 11, AEG Chair PHIL ANSCHUTZ at No. 18 and Reebok founder PAUL FIREMAN at No. 37(LANDREPORT.com, 10/13)….BRAD PITT, who starred as A's GM BILLY BEANE in the film "Moneyball," “kicked off the 13th Mumbai Film Festival Thursday” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 10/14)….Hockey HOFer MARK MESSIER “plans to run next month’s New York City Marathon” (N.Y. POST, 10/14).

IN MEMORY: Palm Beach radio and TV pioneer ROME HARTMAN “died Wednesday at his home” at the age of 87. Hartman worked at WIRK-AM for 35 years and became known as "the sports voice of the Palm Beaches" (PALM BEACH POST, 10/13).